Manchester City have been making genuine efforts to sign Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens, report FootMercato, with the situation becoming somewhat entangled and Newcastle United and Real Madrid also dragged in.
According to the latest report from the French outlet, Manchester City last week held a meeting with Jorge Mendes over signing Lens’ ‘defensive rock’.
The player isn’t directly represented by Mendes’s Gestifute agency, but it’s the Portuguese who appears to be managing a potential transfer.
Lens were also at the meeting last week, as were Khikmatzhon Khoshimov and the player’s direct agent Khasbiullin Gairat.
Real Madrid are presented as being very interested, although that may be to add some pressure to the situation. It’s stated Lens want ‘much more’ than €25m without a figure being put to their desire. Newcastle United complete the trio of ‘hottest clubs’ in the transfer race.
FootMercato quote Khusanov’s entourage as saying: “The player loves RC Lens with all his heart. But we understand the club’s desire to gain financial benefit from the transfer, and they deserve it for their confidence in the young player. We are grateful for everything that Lens has given us and that in this situation, but it is up to the player to decide the next step to take. Abdukodir is now ready to stay a few more months at Lens if necessary. The player’s sporting development is a priority for us and that is why we decided to sign Lens at that time while we had other offers.“
Meanwhile, Lens are said to be keen to sell to the highest bidder.
